Mixed reality optical system using micro phosphor and lens element array in a curved waveguide

ABSTRACT

A sunglasses-style head worn display includes a curved waveguide with double reflective coatings/films and containing an array of light wavelength converting phosphor pinhole-size discs covered with pinhole-sized micro lenses, presenting a wide FOV virtual image for AR/VR.

FIELD

The present application relates generally to wide field of view (FOV)optics for Mixed Reality, encompassing Augmented Reality (AR) and/orVirtual Reality (VR), utilizing an array of pinhole sized micro lensesjuxtaposed with light wavelength converting phosphor micro displayswithin a double reflective curved waveguide.

BACKGROUND

As recognized herein, there is a desire for future wide FOV VR and ARsystems to look like a pair of sunglasses, being very thin, lightweight,and curved to provide close form fitting and a wide FOV (especially forVR).

SUMMARY

As further recognized herein, current technologies to achieve both AR/VRin very thin and lightweight form factors use flat waveguidetechnologies. This is because the waveguides (made of glass or plastic)require the effect of Total Internal Reflection (TIR) to bounce displayimage light within the waveguide to expand the image from a tiny displayarea up to a large area that is directed towards a user's eye, via aprocess called Exit-Pupil Expansion. TIR can only work within a flat orclose to flat waveguide, because in a curved waveguide the light wouldescape the TIR requirements (bouncing light around 42 degrees and belowincident to the plane of the waveguide) and exit the waveguideincorrectly. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to create curvedwaveguide-based optics for VR/AR that have enough efficiency to beeffective, due to the light loss.

To meet the above challenges, a system contains a UV display and acurved waveguide with a double-sided UV reflective coating/film andcontaining an array of light wavelength converting phosphor pinhole-sizediscs, which are covered with pinhole-sized micro lenses.

Accordingly, in an aspect an assembly includes a curved waveguide, afirst ultraviolet (UV) light-reflecting coating or film disposed on thewaveguide, and a second UV light-reflecting coating or film disposed onthe waveguide. At least one UV emitter is configured to emit UV lightinto the waveguide between the first and second UV light-reflectingcoatings and/or films. At least one light wavelength conversion elementsuch as such as a phosphor disc is in the waveguide and is disposed toreceive UV light from the UV emitter reflected by the UVlight-reflecting coatings and/or films. The conversion element isconfigured to convert UV light into visible light that propagatesthrough one or both UV light-reflecting coatings and/or films and thatimpinges on the eye of a wearer of the waveguide.

In an example the assembly is configured as sunglasses and the waveguideis coupled to left and right temples to be disposed in front of awearer's face when the assembly is worn by the wearer.

At least one lens may be juxtaposed with the conversion element throughwhich visible light emitted by the conversion element passes. Pluralconversion elements may be disposed in the waveguide.

In example implementations the UV light-reflecting coatings and/or filmspass visible light.

The conversion element can be juxtaposed with an outer surface of thewaveguide, placed at gaps within the UV reflecting coatings and/orfilms. Or, the conversion element can be juxtaposed with an innersurface of the waveguide, where there are no gaps within the UVreflecting coatings and/or films. The conversion element in general maybe positioned anywhere in the path of UV light within the waveguide.

In some examples, a UV light passageway is defined between the UVlight-reflecting coatings and/or films, and at least one UV sensor canbe provided outside the UV light passageway to generate at least onesignal upon detection of UV light. The signal is operable to cause theUV emitter to stop emitting UV light into the light passageway.

The UV emitter may include at least one UV display, emitting one or moreUV wavelength bands of light.

In another aspect, an apparatus includes at least one curved waveguideconfigured to be worn on the head of a person and defining anultraviolet (UV) light passageway in which UV light is constrained frompassing through. At least one UV emitter is optically coupled to thelight passageway to emit demanded virtual reality (VR) or augmentedreality (AR) images into the light passageway. Also, at least oneconversion element is disposed in the light passageway to receive UVlight from the UV emitter. The conversion element is configured toconvert UV light into visible light that propagates out of the lightpassageway to impinge on an eye of the person when the person is wearingthe waveguide.

In another aspect, an apparatus includes at least one curved waveguideconfigured to be worn on the head of a person and defining anultraviolet (UV) light passageway in which UV light is constrained frompassing through. At least one UV emitter is optically coupled to thelight passageway to emit demanded virtual reality (VR) or augmentedreality (AR) images into the light passageway. At least one UV sensor isoutside the UV light passageway to generate at least one signal upondetection of UV light. The signal is operable to cause the UV emitter tostop emitting UV light into the light passageway.

In another aspect, an apparatus includes at least one curved waveguideconfigured to be worn on the head of a person and defining an infra-red(IR) light passageway, in which IR light is constrained from passingthrough, by the way of IR reflecting coatings and/or films on at leastone side of the waveguide. At least one IR emitter is provided, and atleast one IR sensor can be provided outside the IR light passageway togenerate at least one signal upon detection of IR light. The signal isoperable to cause the IR emitter to stop emitting IR light into thelight passageway. At least one IR emitter is optically coupled to thelight passageway to emit demanded virtual reality (VR) or augmentedreality (AR) images into the light passageway. Also, at least oneconversion element is disposed in the light passageway to receive IRlight from the IR emitter. The conversion element is configured toconvert IR light into visible light that propagates out of the lightpassageway through a micro focusing lens to impinge on an eye of theperson when the person is wearing the waveguide. The details of thepresent application, both as to its structure and operation, can be bestunderstood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which likereference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a curved sunglasses-style display consistent withpresent principles;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example assembly consistent with presentprinciples;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment an example waveguideconfigured as curved sunglasses, as if looking down in plan view fromthe top of the waveguide;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment an examplewaveguide configured as curved sunglasses, as if looking down in planview from the top of the waveguide, with the UV reflective coatingremoved for clarity;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment an example waveguideconfigured as curved sunglasses, as if looking down in plan view fromthe top of the waveguide, showing an alternate location for the UVcoatings and/or films, with the phosphor elements removed for clarity;

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment an examplewaveguide configured as curved sunglasses, as if looking down in planview from the top of the waveguide onto a portion of the waveguide,showing how the waveguide is constructed from three separate pieces,with the UV coatings and/films highlighted as being internal to thewaveguide after assembly;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a fifth embodiment an example waveguideconfigured as curved sunglasses, as if looking down in plan view fromthe top of the waveguide, showing alternate placement of the phosphorelements, with the UV coatings and/or films removed for clarity;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an example waveguide configured ascurved sunglasses, as if looking down in plan view from the top of thewaveguide, illustrating the UV or IR and visible light; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an example system in accordance withpresent principles perspective view of an example headset.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure relates generally to computer ecosystems includingaspects of consumer electronics (CE) device networks such as but notlimited to computer game networks. A system herein may include serverand client components which may be connected over a network such thatdata may be exchanged between the client and server components. Theclient components may include one or more computing devices includinggame consoles such as Sony PlayStation® or a game console made byMicrosoft or Nintendo or other manufacturer, virtual reality (VR)headsets, augmented reality (AR) headsets, portable televisions (e.g.,smart TVs, Internet-enabled TVs), portable computers such as laptops andtablet computers, and other mobile devices including smart phones andadditional examples discussed below. These client devices may operatewith a variety of operating environments. For example, some of theclient computers may employ, as examples, Linux operating systems,operating systems from Microsoft, or a Unix operating system, oroperating systems produced by Apple, Inc., or Google, or a BerkeleySoftware Distribution or Berkeley Standard Distribution (BSD) OSincluding descendants of BSD. These operating environments may be usedto execute one or more browsing programs, such as a browser made byMicrosoft or Google or Mozilla or other browser program that can accesswebsites hosted by the Internet servers discussed below. Also, anoperating environment according to present principles may be used toexecute one or more computer game programs.

Servers and/or gateways may be used that may include one or moreprocessors executing instructions that configure the servers to receiveand transmit data over a network such as the Internet. Or a client andserver can be connected over a local intranet or a virtual privatenetwork. A server or controller may be instantiated by a game consolesuch as a Sony PlayStation®, a personal computer, etc.

Information may be exchanged over a network between the clients andservers. To this end and for security, servers and/or clients caninclude firewalls, load balancers, temporary storages, and proxies, andother network infrastructure for reliability and security. One or moreservers may form an apparatus that implement methods of providing asecure community such as an online social website or gamer network tonetwork members.

A processor may be a single- or multi-chip processor that can executelogic by means of various lines such as address lines, data lines, andcontrol lines and registers and shift registers.

Components included in one embodiment can be used in other embodimentsin any appropriate combination. For example, any of the variouscomponents described herein and/or depicted in the Figures may becombined, interchanged, or excluded from other embodiments.

“A system having at least one of A, B, and C” (likewise “a system havingat least one of A, B, or C” and “a system having at least one of A, B,C”) includes systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and Btogether, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and Ctogether.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , a sunglasses-style assembly 100 includes aframe 102 configured for being worn on a head of a person. The frameincludes left and right temples 104, a nose bridge 106, and the frameholds at least one solid or hollow waveguide 108 that is curved in atleast the horizontal plane when worn and that also may be curved in thevertical plane. The waveguide 108 is configured as a single-lenssunglasses lens and is semi-transparent or transparent to visible light.The waveguide 108 may be glass or plastic and may be a prescriptioneyeglass lens in addition to the features described below. The waveguide108 may be tinted in the manner of sunglasses lenses in addition to thefeatures described below. Alternatively, the present waveguide may beincorporated into a non-sunglasses type head-mounted display.

FIG. 2 illustrates that at least one UV light emitter 200 such as a UVdisplay is in-coupled to the waveguide 108 on one end of the waveguide.The UV display can in-couple into the waveguide at a section of thewaveguide that has a specifically angled planar, curved, or free formsurface, with the UV display directly attached by optical glue to thatsection. Optionally, the in-coupling of the UV light from the UV displaycan be performed by an additional optical waveguide in-coupling methode.g., a coupling prism, a surface relief diffraction grating or anyappropriate optical in-coupler to pass UV light into the waveguide fromthe UV display. The light emitted by the UV emitter 200 may be demandedvirtual reality or augmented reality images under control of at leastone processor 202 accessing at least one computer storage 204 to executeprinciples discussed herein. The demanded images may be provided by a VR(or AR) image source 206 that may be mounted on the assembly 100 alongwith the processor 202 or that may be remote from the assembly 100 andcommunicate wirelessly via appropriate wireless interfaces 210 with theprocessor 202. At least one UV sensor 212 may be provided to detect UVlight leaking from the waveguide 108 and signal the processor 202 todisable the UV emitter 200 in response to detected UV light outside thewaveguide 108.

FIG. 3 illustrates a first embodiment of the waveguide 108 shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 and labeled 300 in FIG. 3 , configured as curvedsunglasses, as if looking down in plan view from the top of thewaveguide. The outer surface 302 of the waveguide 300 is covered with anultraviolet (UV) reflective coatings (and/or films) 304 while the innersurface 306 of the waveguide 300 likewise is covered with UV coatingsand/or films 308.

The coatings/films 304, 308 reflect the UV light inside the waveguidefrom a UV emitter 310 no matter the incident angle of the light to thesurface of waveguide. Note that plural UV emitters may be used asindicated by the dashed boxes 312. In effect, a UV light passageway isdefined between the UV reflective coatings and/or films.

Total internal reflection is not required in this case and the systemacts like a double mirror solution (similar to solar lighting tubes usedin homes), but only for UV light. UV light is trapped inside thewaveguide 300 and can reflect within the waveguide at angles outside ofthe TIR requirement (around 42 degrees and below incident to the planeof the waveguide at the interaction point of the light and waveguidesurface).

It should also be noted that this UV trap waveguide also reflectsoutside UV light from passing through the waveguide, and so providesuseful UV protection to the wearer, in a similar manner to sunglass withUV reflective lenses.

Visible light can pass through the UV coatings and/or films 304, 308 andwaveguide 300 in the same manner that light passes through curved glassor plastic (same as existing glasses, sunglasses, etc.) to provideoptical pass-through of real-world light in the Optical See-through AR(OST-AR) use case.

The UV emitter 310 can be a UV light emitting diode (LED) display, aliquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) display with UV light sources, a UVlaser beam scanning display, or any other display technology that canemit UV light that can couple a UV-based image into the one area(in-coupling) of the curved waveguide.

Within the waveguide 300 are UV-to-visible light conversion elements 314(is some embodiments, disc-shaped elements preferably less than 2 mmdiameter). The UV-to-visible light conversion elements 314 may bedisposed in small recesses of the waveguide and glued to the waveguideduring manufacture. Alternatively, the UV-to-visible light conversionelements may be placed within polymer films on the outer surfaces of thewaveguide in-between the UV reflective coatings and/or films 304 and308. The UV-to-visible light conversion elements 314 in general may befabricated in several ways, including glued to the waveguide, bonded tothe waveguide, coupled to the waveguide, placed within the waveguide,placed on the waveguide, embedded in the waveguide, deposited on thewaveguide. The UV-to-visible light conversion elements 314 may producemonochrome visible light or may be configured to produce red-green-bluecolor light by, e.g., converting three different UV wavelengths intorespective visible colors.

In one example, the elements 314 can be visible light-emitting,UV-excited phosphor embedded within a polymer. Different layers ofpolymer with the appropriate phosphors can exist to support different UVexcitation wavelengths and different visible light emission wavelengths,and together they can perform full color (red, green, blue) emissionfrom separate UV excitation wavelengths. These conversion elements 314act as a self-emissive display, as they convert UV light into visiblelight through the excitation process. The UV conversion elements 314 maybe arranged in an array, evenly or unevenly spaced apart. For an OpticalSee-Through AR (OST-AR) use case, sufficient space is used between theconversion elements 314 to maintain a certain level of opticaltransparency to pass through visible light, such that a user can see thereal world without any major degradation of the view. Additionally, thespacing of the UV conversion elements may be dependent on maintaining awide field of view in at least one axis based on the UV light arraysbouncing within the UV trap waveguide. Therefore, the size andarrangement of the UV conversion elements can be designed such that theUV light from the UV displays can bounce within the UV reflective trapwaveguide and distribute the UV light images from the UV displays to allthe UV conversion elements.

It should be noted that in one embodiment, as the phosphor discspreferably are only 2 mm or less in diameter and the waveguide would bevery close to the eye (<15 mm), the human visual system is unable to seethe conversion elements (such as phosphor discs) themselves, as they aresmaller than the entrance diameter of a human eye pupil and blurredbeyond recognition (due to accommodation retinal blur). It should befurther noted that the phosphor light wavelength converting elements canbe any shape and size.

As shown in FIG. 3 , on the one side of each element 314 facing theuser's eye is a micro lens 316 made of glass, plastic or polymer orother suitable material roughly less than 2 mm in diameter, i.e., thesame or slightly larger than the diameter as the disc 314. Each microlens 316, which may not affect UV wavelengths but only visiblewavelengths, focuses the visible light emitted by the respectiveconversion element 314 to produce a virtual image when viewed by a humaneye at approximately 10 mm-15 mm away in one example. The curvature anddesign of the micro lens 316 can be such as to adjust the virtual imagefocal distance that would be appropriate for the AR/VR use case. Forinstance, the micro lenses could produce a virtual image focused atinfinity or greater than five meters for one use case, or at two metersfor another use case.

It should be noted, that instead of a single micro lens, a micro lensarray (MLA) may be used, or other forms of light focusing technology canbe used to cover the diameter of the phosphor display. In anotherinstance, a liquid crystal micro lens array can be used to providedynamic focusing of the visible light image emitted from the phosphordisc array. With such a system, the focal/accommodation distance of theAR or VR view can be dynamically adjusted to account for where the useris looking based on eye gaze tracking, and/or based on the content,and/or based on the user's eyeglasses prescription, and combinationsthereof.

When plural UV emitters 310, 312 are used, they may be placed at theedges of the curved waveguide 300, as needed to increase the FOV in one(horizontally or vertically) or two dimensions (horizontally andvertically). With such a system, a close form fitting sunglasses styleAR/VR system can be created that can provide a FOV matching human vision(approximately 270 degrees horizontal and 170 degrees vertical).

It is to be understood that in FIG. 3 and other embodiments, infrared(IR) light may be used in lieu of UV light. In such an embodiment, inFIG. 3 the coatings/films 304, 308 are IR-reflective, passing visiblelight, and the emitter 310 is an IR emitter. The light convertingelement 314 convert IR images to visible light images.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment an examplewaveguide 400 configured as curved sunglasses, as if looking down inplan view from the top of the waveguide, with the UV reflective coatingsand/or films removed for clarity. Phosphor UV-to-visible conversionelements 402 with respective lenses 404 are used according to principlesdiscussed above, except that fewer and larger elements 402 are used inFIG. 4 compared to the size and number of conversion elements 314 shownin FIG. 3 . The size and number of conversion elements used may dependon the in-coupling angle of the UV image from the UV display, thedesired FOV for the user's view, and/or whether the system is forOptical See-through Augmented Reality (OST-AR) or Virtual Reality (VR)(amongst other factors).

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment an example waveguide500 configured as curved sunglasses, as if looking down in plan viewfrom the top of the waveguide, showing an alternate location for the UVcoatings and/or films, with the phosphor elements removed for clarity.In FIG. 5 , two UV films and/or coatings 502, 504 are applied within theinternals of waveguide 500. This may be achieved by making the waveguidefrom two pieces, with the UV films and/or coatings 502 applied to thetarget inner surface of the further (from the user's eyes) and firstwaveguide piece, and UV films and/or coatings 504 applied to the targetinner surface of the nearer (to the user's eyes) and second waveguidepiece. The two waveguide pieces can be bonded together using any opticalbonding technique, which places the UV films and/or coatings on thetarget surfaces within the internals of the waveguide. It should benoted that such an embodiment can provide a final waveguide in which itwould be difficult for the UV reflective films and/or coatings to bescratched off, as they are protected, being internal to the plastic orglass waveguide.

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment an examplewaveguide configured as curved sunglasses, as if looking down in planview from the top of the waveguide, showing that the waveguide isconstructed from separate pieces 510, 520 and 530. In FIG. 5A, at leastone UV film and/or coating 502 is applied to the inner surface ofwaveguide part 510 and at least one UV film and/or coating 504 isapplied to part 530, such that when parts 510, 520 and 530 are bondedtogether during assembly, these coatings/films become internal to thewaveguide. It should be noted that such an embodiment can provide afinal waveguide in which it would be difficult for the UV reflectivefilms and/or coatings to be scratched off, as they are protected, beinginternal to the plastic or glass waveguide. Parts 510, 520 and 530 canbe manufactured using injection molding, 3D printing and othermanufacturing techniques to make plastic or glass optical parts. Itshould also be noted that various manufacturing techniques can be usedto apply the UV coatings and/or films 502 and 504 to the respectiveparts 510 and 530, including, but not limited to, vacuum bonding withmatching (to the waveguide material) refractive index optical glue,sputtering deposition, pulsed laser deposition, evaporation deposition,chemical vapor deposition, etc. It should be further understood that thelight wavelength conversion phosphor elements 512 shown in FIG. 5A, canbe applied to the recesses of waveguide piece 510 using variousmanufacturing techniques, including, but not limited to vapordeposition, liquified coating and curing, additive 3D printing, adhesivebonding, etc.

Also shown in FIG. 5A, micro lens elements 514 are juxtaposed withphosphor elements 512. It should be noted that these micro lens elements512, can be coupled to the phosphor elements 512 using variousmanufacturing techniques, including, but not limited to additive 3Dprinting, placement and fixation using optical bonding techniques, etc.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a fifth embodiment an example waveguide600 configured as curved sunglasses, as if looking down in plan viewfrom the top of the waveguide, showing alternate placement of conversionelements 602 on the inside surface 604 of the waveguide 600, with the UVfilms and/or coatings removed for clarity. The UV-to-visible lightconversion elements herein in general may be disposed at any appropriatelocations in the UV light path.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an example waveguide 700 configured ascurved sunglasses such as any of the waveguides discussed herein, as iflooking down in plan view from the top of the waveguide, illustratingthe UV light 702 emitted from at least one UV emitter 704 and internallyreflected within the waveguide with some of the UV light impinging onconversion elements 706 (UV reflection films and/or coatings and lensesnot shown). The conversion elements 706 convert the UV light into beams708 of visible light, which pass through the UV films and/or coatingsand impinge on the eye 710 of the wearer. As shown, the beams 708 ofvisible light can overlap each other so that the wearer perceives nodiscontinuities in the visible image as the eye 710 rotates to view theentire field of view within the fovea.

The waveguides discussed herein may be made of solid plastic or glass orthey may be hollow, i.e., with an air chamber between inner and outersurfaces of the waveguide.

The above solution provides an architecture that allows optical andmechanical designers and engineers the flexibility to create a curvedform factor without having to design around the efficiency limitationsof waveguide total internal reflections.

It should be understood, that bouncing image light within a curved UVtrap waveguide may cause significant distortions to the UV image(composition of many pixel UV light rays) falling onto a particularphosphor disc. This would result in a highly distorted andincomprehensible visible image being shown to the user. The amount ofdistortion depends on the curvature and thickness of the waveguide, aswell as the placement and angle of the phosphor discs and UV displays(amongst other factors).

Accordingly, present principles provided at least four techniques may beused individually or collectively to address the problem noted above.

Firstly, the UV image light emitted from the UV display may bepre-distorted prior to or during the process of in-coupling into thewaveguide. This can be achieved using a specifically designed passiveoptical element, such as a freeform optical lens, a surface reliefdiffractive grating, a diffractive volume hologram, or via a dynamicoptical solution such as a phase Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS)spatial light modulator containing a phase holographic freeform lensimage. Regardless of the optical technology, the UV light image can bepre-distorted to account for the distortions caused to the UV imagelight that would fall onto each phosphor display.

Secondly, the phosphor display discs themselves can be orientated(angled in respect to the waveguide surface facing the user), containsome curvature (in either or both surface axis) or be a freeform surfaceto account for UV image distortions, such that the visible light (afterpassing through the micro lens covering the phosphor display) is correctfor the user's pupil, viewing the field of view provided.

Thirdly, the micro lens covering the phosphor display can account forthe distortions to the visible image being displayed by each phosphordisplay, by having an asymmetric design or being completely free form.It should also be noted that the micro lens may also be a diffractivebased lens (surface relief grating, volume holographic) and be designedto correct any distortions from the phosphor display.

Fourthly, the curvature of the outer surface of the waveguide may bedifferent from the curvature of the inner surface of the waveguide,which may be used to reduce distortions of the images before beingconverted by the phosphor elements.

It should be understood that additional optical elements may be added(internally or externally) to the curved waveguide to provide expansionof the UV or IR in-coupled image before it is converted by the phosphorelements. This image expansion is commonly referred to as exit pupilexpansion and may be performed in one axis or two axes, to expand thesize of the image bouncing inside the double reflective waveguide. Theoptical elements that facilitate exit pupil expansion may be positionedafter the in-coupling from the UV or IR emitters and prior to the UV orIR images impinging on the light conversion elements. In one embodiment,the surfaces of the curved waveguide may contain structures (surfacerelief gratings, etc.) used to perform exit pupil expansion in one axisor two axes and be covered with reflective coatings or films toimplement the double reflective curved waveguide solution describeherein. As described in the description for FIG. 5A, these surfaces canbe constructed to be internal to the waveguide if the waveguide is madefrom separate adjoining pieces.

And yet again, the exit pupil expansion function, double reflection andimage distortion correction may be all performed by the same structureson the (internal or external) surfaces of the waveguide in the lightpassageway from the light emitters to the light conversion elements.Therefore, it should be understood that such a system could utilizesmaller light emitters for a smaller in-coupling area compared to theout-coupling area containing the light conversion elements with theirassociated micro lenses, which would facilitate a close-form fittingsunglasses-style assembly as described in the description for FIG. 1 .

The waveguides above can be perceptually fully transparent orsemi-transparent, can be unpowered by electricity, and do not have toaccount for total internal reflection owing to the use of two UV or IRreflective coatings and/or films.

Referring to FIG. 8 , an example system 10 is shown, which may includeone or more of the example devices mentioned above and described furtherbelow in accordance with present principles. The first of the exampledevices included in the system 10 is a consumer electronics (CE) devicesuch as an audio video device (AVD) 12 such as but not limited to anInternet-enabled TV with a TV tuner (equivalently, set top boxcontrolling a TV). The AVD 12 alternatively may also be a computerizedInternet enabled (“smart”) telephone, a tablet computer, a notebookcomputer, a head-mounted device (HMD) and/or headset such as smartglasses or a VR headset, another wearable computerized device, acomputerized Internet-enabled music player, computerizedInternet-enabled headphones, a computerized Internet-enabled implantabledevice such as an implantable skin device, etc. Regardless, it is to beunderstood that the AVD 12 is configured to undertake present principles(e.g., communicate with other CE devices to undertake presentprinciples, execute the logic described herein, and perform any otherfunctions and/or operations described herein).

Accordingly, to undertake such principles the AVD 12 can be establishedby some, or all of the components shown. For example, the AVD 12 caninclude one or more touch-enabled displays 14 that may be implemented bya high definition or ultra-high definition “4K” or higher flat screen.The touch-enabled display(s) 14 may include, for example, a capacitiveor resistive touch sensing layer with a grid of electrodes for touchsensing consistent with present principles.

The AVD 12 may also include one or more speakers 16 for outputting audioin accordance with present principles, and at least one additional inputdevice 18 such as an audio receiver/microphone for entering audiblecommands to the AVD 12 to control the AVD 12. The example AVD 12 mayalso include one or more network interfaces 20 for communication over atleast one network 22 such as the Internet, an WAN, an LAN, etc. undercontrol of one or more processors 24. Thus, the interface 20 may be,without limitation, a Wi-Fi transceiver, which is an example of awireless computer network interface, such as but not limited to a meshnetwork transceiver. It is to be understood that the processor 24controls the AVD 12 to undertake present principles, including the otherelements of the AVD 12 described herein such as controlling the display14 to present images thereon and receiving input therefrom. Furthermore,note the network interface 20 may be a wired or wireless modem orrouter, or other appropriate interface such as a wireless telephonytransceiver, or Wi-Fi transceiver as mentioned above, etc.

In addition to the foregoing, the AVD 12 may also include one or moreinput and/or output ports 26 such as a high-definition multimediainterface (HDMI) port or a universal serial bus (USB) port to physicallyconnect to another CE device and/or a headphone port to connectheadphones to the AVD 12 for presentation of audio from the AVD 12 to auser through the headphones. For example, the input port 26 may beconnected via wire or wirelessly to a cable or satellite source 26 a ofaudio video content. Thus, the source 26 a may be a separate orintegrated set top box, or a satellite receiver. Or the source 26 a maybe a game console or disk player containing content. The source 26 awhen implemented as a game console may include some or all of thecomponents described below in relation to the CE device 48.

The AVD 12 may further include one or more computermemories/computer-readable storage mediums 28 such as disk-based orsolid-state storage that are not transitory signals, in some casesembodied in the chassis of the AVD as standalone devices or as apersonal video recording device (PVR) or video disk player eitherinternal or external to the chassis of the AVD for playing back AVprograms or as removable memory media or the below-described server.Also, in some embodiments, the AVD 12 can include a position or locationreceiver such as but not limited to a cellphone receiver, GPS receiverand/or altimeter 30 that is configured to receive geographic positioninformation from a satellite or cellphone base station and provide theinformation to the processor 24 and/or determine an altitude at whichthe AVD 12 is disposed in conjunction with the processor 24. Thecomponent 30 may also be implemented by an inertial measurement unit(IMU) that typically includes a combination of accelerometers,gyroscopes, and magnetometers to determine the location and orientationof the AVD 12 in three dimension or by an event-based sensors.

Continuing the description of the AVD 12, in some embodiments the AVD 12may include one or more cameras 32 that may be a thermal imaging camera,a digital camera such as a webcam, an event-based sensor, and/or acamera integrated into the AVD 12 and controllable by the processor 24to gather pictures/images and/or video in accordance with presentprinciples. Also included on the AVD 12 may be a Bluetooth transceiver34 and other Near Field Communication (NFC) element 36 for communicationwith other devices using Bluetooth and/or NFC technology, respectively.An example NFC element can be a radio frequency identification (RFID)element.

Further still, the AVD 12 may include one or more auxiliary sensors 38(e.g., a pressure sensor, a motion sensor such as an accelerometer,gyroscope, cyclometer, or a magnetic sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, anoptical sensor, a speed and/or cadence sensor, an event-based sensor, agesture sensor (e.g., for sensing gesture command)) that provide inputto the processor 24. For example, one or more of the auxiliary sensors38 may include one or more pressure sensors forming a layer of thetouch-enabled display 14 itself and may be, without limitation,piezoelectric pressure sensors, capacitive pressure sensors,piezoresistive strain gauges, optical pressure sensors, electromagneticpressure sensors, etc.

The AVD 12 may also include an over-the-air TV broadcast port 40 forreceiving OTA TV broadcasts providing input to the processor 24. Inaddition to the foregoing, it is noted that the AVD 12 may also includean infrared (IR) transmitter and/or IR receiver and/or IR transceiver 42such as an IR data association (IRDA) device. A battery (not shown) maybe provided for powering the AVD 12, as may be a kinetic energyharvester that may turn kinetic energy into power to charge the batteryand/or power the AVD 12. A graphics processing unit (GPU) 44 and fieldprogrammable gated array 46 also may be included. One or morehaptics/vibration generators 47 may be provided for generating tactilesignals that can be sensed by a person holding or in contact with thedevice. The haptics generators 47 may thus vibrate all or part of theAVD 12 using an electric motor connected to an off-center and/oroff-balanced weight via the motor's rotatable shaft so that the shaftmay rotate under control of the motor (which in turn may be controlledby a processor such as the processor 24) to create vibration of variousfrequencies and/or amplitudes as well as force simulations in variousdirections.

In addition to the AVD 12, the system 10 may include one or more otherCE device types. In one example, a first CE device 48 may be a computergame console that can be used to send computer game audio and video tothe AVD 12 via commands sent directly to the AVD 12 and/or through thebelow-described server while a second CE device 50 may include similarcomponents as the first CE device 48. In the example shown, the secondCE device 50 may be configured as a computer game controller manipulatedby a player or a head-mounted display (HMD) worn by a player. The HMDmay include a heads-up transparent or non-transparent display forrespectively presenting AR/MR content or VR content. The HMD mayimplement the sunglasses-style structure shown herein.

In the example shown, only two CE devices are shown, it being understoodthat fewer or greater devices may be used. A device herein may implementsome or all of the components shown for the AVD 12. Any of thecomponents shown in the following figures may incorporate some or all ofthe components shown in the case of the AVD 12.

Now in reference to the afore-mentioned at least one server 52, itincludes at least one server processor 54, at least one tangiblecomputer readable storage medium 56 such as disk-based or solid-statestorage, and at least one network interface 58 that, under control ofthe server processor 54, allows for communication with the otherillustrated devices over the network 22, and indeed may facilitatecommunication between servers and client devices in accordance withpresent principles. Note that the network interface 58 may be, e.g., awired or wireless modem or router, Wi-Fi transceiver, or otherappropriate interface such as, e.g., a wireless telephony transceiver.

Accordingly, in some embodiments the server 52 may be an Internet serveror an entire server “farm” and may include and perform “cloud” functionssuch that the devices of the system 10 may access a “cloud” environmentvia the server 52 in example embodiments for, e.g., network gamingapplications. Or the server 52 may be implemented by one or more gameconsoles or other computers in the same room as the other devices shownor nearby.

The components shown in the following figures may include some or allcomponents shown in herein. Any user interfaces (UI) described hereinmay be consolidated and/or expanded, and UI elements may be mixed andmatched between UIs.

While the particular embodiments are herein shown and described indetail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which isencompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An assembly, comprising: a curved waveguide; afirst ultraviolet (UV)-light-reflecting coatings and/or films disposedon the waveguide; a second UV light-reflecting coatings and/or filmsdisposed on the waveguide; at least one UV emitter configured to emit UVlight into the waveguide between the first and second UVlight-reflecting coatings and/or films; and at least one conversionelement in the waveguide and disposed to receive UV light from the UVemitter, the conversion element being configured to convert UV lightinto visible light that propagates through one or both UVlight-reflecting coatings and/or films and that impinges on the eye of awearer of the waveguide.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein theassembly is configured as sunglasses and the waveguide is coupled toleft and right temples to be disposed in front of a wearer's face whenthe assembly is worn by the wearer.
 3. The assembly of claim 1,comprising at least one lens juxtaposed with the conversion elementthrough which visible light emitted by the conversion element isfocused.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, comprising plural conversionelements in the waveguide.
 5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the UVlight-reflecting coatings and/or films pass visible light from outsidethe assembly.
 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the conversion elementcomprises a phosphor element.
 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein theconversion element is juxtaposed with an outer surface of the waveguide.8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the conversion element is juxtaposedwith an inner surface of the waveguide.
 9. The assembly of claim 1,wherein a UV light passageway is defined between the UV light-reflectingcoatings and/or films, and the assembly comprises at least one UV sensoroutside the UV light passageway to generate at least one signal upondetection of UV light, the signal being operable to cause the UV emitterto stop emitting UV light into the light passageway.
 10. The assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the UV emitter comprises at least one UV display. 11.An apparatus, comprising: at least one curved waveguide configured to beworn on the head of a person and defining an infrared (IR) lightpassageway in which IR light is constrained from passing through; atleast one IR emitter optically coupled to the light passageway to emitdemanded virtual reality (VR) and/or augmented reality (AR) images intothe light passageway; and at least one conversion element in the lightpassageway to receive IR light from the IR emitter, the conversionelement being configured to convert IR light into visible light thatpropagates out of the light passageway to impinge on an eye of theperson when the person is wearing the waveguide.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the light passageway is defined between first andsecond IR light-reflecting coatings and/or films disposed on thewaveguide.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus isconfigured as sunglasses and the waveguide is coupled to left and righttemples to be disposed in front of a wearer's face when the assembly isworn by the wearer.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising at leastone lens juxtaposed with the conversion element through which visiblelight emitted by the conversion element is focused.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 11, comprising plural conversion elements in the waveguide. 16.The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the IR light-reflecting coatingsand/or films pass visible light.
 17. The apparatus of claim 11, whereinthe conversion element comprises a phosphor element.
 18. The apparatusof claim 11, wherein the conversion element is juxtaposed with an outersurface of the waveguide.
 19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein theconversion element is juxtaposed with an inner surface of the waveguide.20. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising at least one IR sensor outsidethe IR light passageway to generate at least one signal upon detectionof IR light, the signal being operable to cause the IR emitter to stopemitting IR light into the light passageway.
 21. An apparatus,comprising: at least one curved waveguide configured to be worn on thehead of a person and defining an ultraviolet (UV) or infrared (IR) lightpassageway in which UV or IR light is constrained from passing through;at least one UV or IR emitter optically coupled to the light passagewayto emit demanded images into the light passageway; and at least one UVor IR sensor outside the UV or IR light passageway to generate at leastone signal upon detection of UV or IR light, the signal being operableto cause the UV or IR emitter to stop emitting UV or IR light into thelight passageway.